The Selma Times-Journal

The price of a postage stamp will rise by one cent

on May 12 to 42 cents.

The price of a first-class stamp last went up in May of 2007,

rising from 39 cents to 41 cents.

The costs of mailing first-class letters, postcards,

two- ounce large envelopes,

first-class international letters,

and certified mail will rise.

The cost of mailing a two ounce first-class letter, slightly heavier

than a first-class envelope, will rise one cent , to 59 cents.

The cost of mailing a postcard will rise from 26 cents to 27 cents.

The cost of mailing a two-ounce large envelope will rise from 97 cents to $1.

The cost of sending a first-class international letter to Canada or Mexico will rise from 69 cents to 72 cents, and first-class to other countries will rise from 90 cents to 94 cents.

The cost of sending certified mail, where the sender receives proof of delivery, will rise from $2.65 to $2.70.

The costs of other services will stay the same.

The price rise comes under a new law called the Postal Accountability and Enhancement

Act, which allows for prices to be changed in step with inflation and with 45 days&8217; notice.

In the future, prices will change

each

May.

Postmaster James A. Howard said rising gas prices have hit the United States Postal Service hard.

Locally, there won&8217;t be much of an effect on day-to-day post office

operations, Howard said Monday. &8220;We expect

that more people will be coming in and buying the &8220;Forever&8221; stamp, Howard said.

Postal employees will have to collect

stamps that are marked for 41 cents and send them back to distribution centers to be destroyed. Vending machines will have to be changed, and the post office will have to accommodate a spike in business as people come in to purchase the 41-cent

&8220;Forever&8221; stamps in the days immediately before

May 12.

The 41-cent

&8220;Forever&8221; stamp was first issued in 2007,

and will be good for use without additional postage indefinitely.

The Postal Service

said

it plans to have five billion Forever stamps in stock to handle customer demand.

Some stamps hat have been coming in smaller supply until the price changeover

may not be available and

will have to be purchased online

or from behind the postal clerk counter.